Congress To Vote On DC Gun Ban Repeal

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Imminent Vote In Congress To Repeal DC Gun Ban DC digs in its heels, even while other communities are repealing their gun control

Gun Owners of America
E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
http://www.gunowners.org

Thursday, September 11, 2008

The Heller earthquake continues to send tremors through gun control communities in middle America.

Following the Supreme Court's U.S. v. Heller decision in June, at least one town in West Virginia and two jurisdictions in Illinois have been forced to reconsider their gun control laws. The latter two in Wilmette and Morton Grove, Illinois repealed their handgun bans in July.

But while some communities have "seen the light," others continue to dig in their heels. Take Washington, DC, where the city council has thumbed it's nose at the Court's ruling and has redrafted its registration law to impose a burdensome 12-step process that, as summarized in one legislative report, involves "multiple trips to gun dealers and government offices, fingerprinting, a written exam, and ballistic testing."

At a minimum, some officers believe this process will take 14 days. But a more realistic assessment was offered by DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier who said the process "could take months."

In response, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote soon on legislation to simply repeal the DC gun ban a vote that could come as early as today.

HR 6691, introduced by Rep. Travis Childers (D-MS), would repeal much of the gun control in the District including the ban on semi-auto pistols and rifles, and the registration requirements which require residents to get permission from the city council before they can own a weapon.

The Childers bill will also strike the "trigger lock" provision which endangers gun owners by forcing the lucky ones who successfully jump through the 12-step process to render their guns unusable for immediate defensive purposes.

Faced with a discharge petition that had gained tremendous momentum in large part, thanks to your efforts which was a response to an earlier GOA alert the Democratic leadership realized that a bill to repeal the DC gun ban was definitely going to be brought out of committee and passed on the House floor. So the anti-gun leadership decided that the place to kill the bill was in the Senate.

Consider what news reports are saying:

"Although the bill is expected to pass in the House, possibly as soon as this week, its fate is less clear in the Senate," reported The Washington Post this past Tuesday. "It has won the backing of 48 [House] Democrats, many facing reelection in strongly pro-gun areas, and is expected to pick up broad support among Republicans."

Remarkably, the Post is right. (A stopped clock is also right twice a day.) The Democrats are trying to "have their cake and eat it too" by protecting Democrats from rural districts allowing them to vote pro-gun but then letting the bill die in the Senate.

That's why GOA is encouraging members to contact their two senators at this time.

ACTION: Please urge your senators to demand a vote on repealing DC's gun control. While we certainly don't want to discourage you from contacting your Representative, the main battle is going to be in the other chamber, so please make sure you contact both of your senators.

You can use the pre-written message below and send it as an e-mail by visiting the GOA Legislative Action Center at:

http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm (where phone and fax numbers are also available).

----- Pre-written letter -----

Dear Senator:

I am glad to see that the House is taking up HR 6691, a bill introduced by Mississippi Democrat Travis Childers. His bill would help enforce the recent Supreme Court decision in U.S. v. Heller. It would do so by repealing the gun ban in the District including the ban on semi-auto pistols and rifles, and the registration requirements which require residents to get permission from the city council before they can own a weapon. The Childers bill will also strike the "trigger lock" provision which endangers gun owners by forcing the lucky ones who successfully jump through the 12-step process to render their guns unusable for immediate defensive purposes. Regardless of what happens to HR 6691, I would implore you, in the strongest possible terms, to urge Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to schedule a vote on repealing the DC gun ban. Thank you.

Sincerely,
 
So when will ALL citizens of the US be able to have their guns in a FEDERAL district unburdened by state law?

Oh...I guess I shouldn't ask that question.:evil:
 
Here's what I'm sending them, by conventional mail and hand signed. I modified the GOA's letter a bit to suit my tastes.
Dear Senator Coleman,

I am glad to see that the House is taking up HR 6691, a bill introduced by Mississippi Democrat Travis Childers. His bill would help enforce the recent Supreme Court decision in U.S. v. Heller. It would do so by repealing the
gun ban in the District -- including the ban on semi-auto pistols and rifles, and the registration requirements which require residents to get permission from the city council before they can own a weapon. It is revolting that residents of our capital city can not enjoy the same rights that we do in Minnesota. The ban on guns has failed to make Washington D.C. a safe place as criminals still have guns despite the ban. The ban has only served to disarm the law-abiding and done nothing to stop those intent on breaking the law. In fact, Minnesota has a lower than average crime rate out of all the states and much lower than Washington D.C.

The Childers bill will also strike the "trigger lock" provision which endangers gun owners by forcing the lucky ones who successfully jump through the 12-step process to render their guns unusable for immediate defensive purposes.
Regardless of what happens to HR 6691, I would implore you, in the strongest possible terms, to urge Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to schedule a vote on repealing the DC gun ban.

I am an Air Force Aircraft Electrician currently stationed in Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina who is very much concerned with preserving our rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States and am committed to
defending our constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Thank you for taking your time to read this letter,
Matthew Johnson, SrA, USAF
 
Following the Supreme Court's U.S. v. Heller decision in June,

It's "Heller v. Wash. DC," SCOTUS 07-290 -- Just so you sound like you know what you're talking about.
 
According to thomas.loc.gov, the bill has been:
7/31/2008:
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

which with the "Speaker" being Nancy Pelosi, means it may be buried there without significant support. I've written my representative.

Maybe we should start a thread in activism?
 
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